W C.T.U.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 242, 18 November 1909, Page 3

W C.T.U.

Till- ANM'AI, MKKTJN.i. Xhu auuual meeting of the .sc.» I\\* mouth branch of I in.* omens Tcinperaace l/inou, field 4 »e.«u»'(iay tit , •Wlntciey .Memorial Lauren .. •> * largely attended. Ueporu ■uiuiniue i were very satisfactory, aim pruspcas excellent. The dumig i.uyear had increased from <>o lo IUS. | 011ß-era for the ensuing )ear were 'elected as follows:—President, Mrs. Alan Douglas; corresponding sccrcUry, Miss Ambury; recording secretary, Aiiss lJawkin*; treasurer, .Miss Sadier. The branch held a well-alumled social in AYliiteley Hall last evening. The c]|airu|i||) (liiiv. ,1. J:!. <'!|;i|>man) was supported on tiiu platform by the Uev. .1. tiny, Kev. l\ Kcllow, and the officers of the W.C.T.U. The meeting opened with the song ".Some Glad Day,' which may now be called the women's national anthem. The opening prayer was led by Kev. J. Guy. The chairman thanked the I'nion for , the invitation to preside at the meeting. He said he knew Clutha wider license and under ami he could «ny, assuredly that nothing but good had accrued to that district by the adoption of no-license. Referring to the proposed amended licensing legislation, he said there was no reason why the time allowed for no-license in the electorates should hp extondo(J beyond the time now allowed. Qn the whole, he thought the alteration was more in favor of the Trade than of the temperance party, ile urged the women to put forth all their energy in this cause, as they had done in the past, and not slacken their efl'orts because there was a prospect of some reduction of the majority demanded b» law.

Mrs. Douglas, the newly-elected president of the Union in New Plymouth, thanked the chairman for his promise of help in their work. She told the story of the origin of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, and tin : wise woman wl|o was the founder of [ it —illrs. I,ewis, of Hillsborough, Ohio. The liible ami moral suasion was their method, She urged all her fellow members of the Union to show what they were, ami take a pride in wearing tlie white ribbon badge. Miss V ; illard declined a lucrative position offered her s'o that she might devote her life to the cause of temperance and particular!) to the W.C.T.I'. Her motto was "Do Everything," which meant that the unions .should put their hand to every work for the advancement of the social and moral welfare of the community. The local union tried to carry out the

"do everything" policy. licferring t" the Host lioom. now in the Carnegie Library, slip said that about .100 persons visited Hint mom weekly, but there was very little linaiteial support given to this enterprise. She asked those who used t lie room lo remember that it cost something to carry it on. and not to forget the collecting box now affixed in the room. If everyone contributed only ft trifle there would be no deficit. In reviewing the work of the past year, Mrs. Douglas said there was progress all along the line: membership had increased, and several sub-unions had been formed in the country districts. ltev. P. Kellow claimed to have had it hand in some nl the early movements ampng women in temperance wqrk, when as a reporter for the press he had to attend their meetings and sometimes' to help in the conduct of their business. Ho therefore felt not out of place in addressing the present moeting. >lfo agreed that a woman's work was in the home, if they enlarged the idea of home from just the mere bit of space cn-

closed by the four walls of the house to all the environment of life so seriously influencing the rising generation. As a minister he regarded the work of the Churches and of the W.C.T.C. as moving in the same direction—the progress of humanity. The business (part of the meeting closed by the singing of the. hymn " Cod bless pur Native Land," and refreshments handed round by the ladies. "Musical items were contributed as folIpw:—Pianoforte, trip, Missed Canncll.. Douglas and Vcalc; song, "Kest in the Jjord," Misses Goodacre; song, ''The Gift," Miss Slack,